Lifting device



July 15, 1958 J. VILLARS 2,843,222

LIFTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VENTOQ Jul/r10 liars.

y 1958 J. VILLARS 2,843,222

LIFTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 18, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Julio illa/s.

ATTORNEY y 1958 J. VILLARS 2,843,222

. LII-TING DEVICE Filed Jan; 1a, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEY July 15, 1958 J. VILLARS LIFTING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 18, 1954 W Ban 5:-

IN VEN 70E ATTORNE Y atent gara es Patented July 15, 1958 fine LlF'fliNG DEVICE .lulio Viliars, VersoimGeneva, Switzerland A 'i-plication l'anrtary E3, 1954, Serial No. 404,646 Claims priority, appiieatian witzerland lanuary 17, 1953 15 filaims. (Cl. 1fi7--S.41)

There exist actually many lifting appliances more particularly designed to lift motor-cars. The lifting appliances or lifts for touring-cars comprise generally four columns between which there is displaced a platform actuated by means of a lifting device.

New, this kind of lift is relatively expensive and I by the fact that it comprises only one column and at v.

least one lifting member located on one side of said column and carried by only one slide connected to the actuating mechanism and rolling along said column.

The attached drawing shows schematically and by way of example one form of execution of the lifting appliance.

Figs. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a form of execution of said lifting appliance, more specially foreseen to lift motor-cars.

Fig. 3 is a cross section view, at a greater scale, along line III- 111 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a side View with cut away parts and parts seen in axial cross section and others seen in cross section along line lV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a partial axial cross section of a variant of execution.

Fig. 6 is a partial view of another variant.

Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of the lifting appliance provided with rolling ways.

Fig. 8 is a cross section along line VllIVIIl of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a partial plan view of the lifting appliance supplied with a carrying member provided with three bearing surfaces.

Fig. 10 is a side view.

Fig. 11 is a partial cross section of the lifting appliance provided with a safety device.

Fig. 12 is a partial cross section along line XIIXII of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a partial perspective view of the safety device in which certain parts are shown apart from the others.

According to the attached drawing, the lifting appliance comprises only one column 1 rigidly fastened to the ground s by means of a base-piece 2. Said column is constitutedby two profiled irons 3 each having the shape of an H (Fig. 3) Welded one to the other at 4 over their whole length. A slot 5 is made in the rear face of the column. An actuating screw 6 housed inside said column is suspended by its upper end by means of an axial bearing 7. Said screw 6 is driven in rotation by means of a motor M fastened to the upper extremity of said, column. The mechanical connection between said motor and said actuating screw comprises a worm 8 and a wheel 9. An

actuating nut 11 having a cylindrical external shape is housed in a piece 12 of semi-cylindrical shape opened downwards. Said piece 12 provided with an opening 13 giving passage to the screw 6, is carried by two lateral holdfasts 14. Said holdfasts, located on both sides of said screw 6, cross the slot 5 and are rigidly fastened to a slide 15 surrounding the profiled irons 3. Said slide rests by means of four rollers 16 on the internal faces of the outer wings of the profiled irons 3.

In order to allow an easy mounting, the holdfasts 14 cross an opening 17 made in the slide and are welded onto a plate 18 fastened to the rear face of the slide by means of fastening members if. The front face of the slide carries a pair of parallel arms 20 intended to receive the car v to be lifted. Said pair of arms constitutes a lifting member.

When the screw is driven by the motor M, the actuating nut 11 onto which rests the half-cylinder 12, goes up or down along said screw according to the sense of rotation of said screw. Thus, said nut drives in its displacements the slide 15, the rollers of which roll along the internal faces of the outer wings of the H-shaped irons.

Further, the mechanical connection foreseen between the screw 6 and the slide 15 allows the actuating nut 11 to swivel and to take inside the piece 12, the axial and angular position corresponding to the position of the screw 6. In this way, no wedging nor premature wear may take place. Besides, if during the lowering of the lifting member, said lifting member is stopped by means of any thing, the nut 11 continues its travel downwards and the lifting member 20 rests on said thing without any consecutive mechanical damage, as it is the case by the known lifting appliances.

From the examination of the attached drawing, one may understand the great mechanical and constructive simplicity of the described lift. The practical tests made have proved that such a lift allows to lift easily loads of 1000 kg. and more, that permits to give to the garage keepers for instance a simple, robust, of little overall size and cheap lifting appliance. Said appliance allows to lift all the little motor-cars which are today more and more appreciated by the users even as the touring-cars, or loads till 2000 kg. for instance.

Fig. 5 shows a variant of execution of the described lifting appliance in which the profiled irons 3 are fastened to a rotatable ground piece 21 hearing on an axial bearing 22 and maintained in the horizontal position by means of a ring 23 fastened to said base-plate. A lock 24, hinged at 25 on the ground piece and cooperating with notches 26 made in the ring 23, defines the angular positions of the column.

This variant of execution allows, by means of rotation of the column, to place the arms 20 parallelly to a wall for instance in order to clear up a passage for instance when the lift is not in use.

a variant of execution, the ground piece could revolve between two ball hearings in order to permit the rotation of the column when the lifting member 20 is loaded.

Fig. 6 shows another variant of execution in which each arm 20 is hinged at 27 with respect to the slide 15 in order to permit to raise said arms when the lifting device is not in use.

In the case of a motor-car comprising a carrying frame, simple strips 28 set on the arms 20 allow to lift the motorcar v, butone can also provide the lifting member with removable bearing members.

In the form of execution represented on the Figs. 7 and 8 these bearing members are constituted by rolling ways comprising each an iron sheet 29, the cross section of which presents the general shape of a U. Said iron sheet 29 is rigidly fastened to two profiled irons 30 connected one to the other by means of a flat iron 31. The distance 1 between the extremities of the irons 30 is at least equal to the total Width e of the lifting member 29. Thus, each rolling way may be engaged onto said lifting member as represented on the drawing. The motor-car placed on the rolling ways is then lifted by its wheels.

For certain works (adjustment of the brakes for instance) it is necessary that the wheels of the lifted car be free. In this case, one can provide the lift with a carrying member 32 having the shape of a r (Figs. 9 and 10) comprising three bearing surfaces 33 and provided with openings 34 for the passage of the arms 20.

It is evident that it is necessary to foresee a bearing member having the form of a Y, or as the case may be the shape of an X provided with four bearing surfaces, especially for each type of car to be lifted. Indeed the relative positions of the three or four bearing surfaces 33 must be adapted to the relative positions of the hearing surfaces provided on each type of motor-car.

According to the form of execution illustrated on Figs. 11 to 13, the lifting appliance is still provided with a safety device. Said'device comprises a safety nut made of two segments 43. The outer surfaces 44 of said segments are inclined with respect to the axis g of the safety nut. Each surface 44 forms with the axis g an angle a. The incline of the surfaces 44 is such that the lower surface 36 of the safety nut is greater than its upper surface 37.

A frame, comprising two parallel walls 38 disposed on one end the other side of the actuating screw 6 and connected together by means of two inclined walls 35, rests onto said safety nut. The inclined Walls cooperate with the inclined walls 44 of the segments of the safety nut. The extremities 39 of said walls 38 are engaged in the slot 5 and slide along the walls of said slot. These extremities 39 constitute with the walls of said slot 5 a guiding device maintaining said frame in a fixed angular posititon with respect to the column. Finally, the walls 38 comprise each a bearing surface 40 onto which rests freely the actuating nut 11.

Springs 41 housed in drillings 42 made in said segments 43 tend to maintain said segments in the position represented on the drawing against the action of the weight of "the frame.

The working of the appliance provided with the described safety device is the following:

When the appliance works. normally, the safety nut maintained in a fixed angular position by the extremities 39 of'the walls 38 engaged in the slot 5, runs upwards or downwards according to the sense of rotation of the actuating screw 6. Indeed, the threads of the segments 43 are maintained at least partially in mesh with the threads of the actuating screw 6, by means of the action of the weight of the said frame. It follows that said safety nut follows all the vertical displacements of the actuating nut 11 and that the distance d between these two nuts remains constant. a

On the other hand, if in consequence of an undue wear of the threads of the actuating nut 11, these threads break off, and the slide runs down under the action of the load carried by the arms 20, whereby said slide draws the actuating nut in its displacement, said nut staying onto the bearing surfaces 40, shifts axially the frame downwards, against the action of the springs 41, and causes thereby the automatic jamming of said safety nut on the actuating screw 6. Indeed, the inclined walls 44 and 35 constitute a mechanical connection between the frame and the segments 43 which causes, when said frame is shifted axially downwards in relation to the safety nut, the automatic jamming of said segments 43 on said actuating screw 6. In consequence, said screw may no more be driven in one sense of rotation nor in the other, and the slide, resting on the said safety nut by the intermediary of the actuating nut 11, is stopped just at the beginning of its downward run.

One of the great advantages of the described safety device lies in the fact that by normal working of the appliance, the safety nut does not carry any load and consequently said safety nut does not wear out. Besides, in the case of a breaking of the threads of the actuating nut if, the screw 6 is jammed on, in such a way that the lifting appliance may no longer be used by causing for instance the running up and down of the platform by means of the safety nut. Thus, the user is in the obligation to repair the lifting appliance.

One form of execution and some variants of the lifting appliance especially foreseen for the lifting of motorcars have been described here by way of example and with reference to the attached drawing. However, it is clear that the described appliance may be adapted to other types of lifting appliances. Thus, the column 1 may be carried by a carriage and the lifting member may be constituted by a platform. In this case, the lifting device will be transportable and constitutes a device which is very practical for the loading of boxes on a lorry for instance.

I claim:

1. A lifting appliance for vehicles and the like comprising a single column having a rear face and a front face, said column consisting of two H-shaped irons, each having upper and lower soles and a stem positioned therebetween, each of said upper and lower soles having inner and outer surfaces, the upper sole and the lower sole of each said iron consisting of an external flange and an internal flange, the respective internal flanges of said upper soles being joined and the respective internal flanges of said lower soles being joined, whereby said respective stems and said respective joined internal flanges form a hollow within said .column extending the length of said column, said outer surfaces of said joined upper soles and said joined lower soles constituting said rear face and said front face, respectively, said rear face having a vertical slot, an actuating screw suspended in said column between said stems and said joined internal flanges from the upper end of said column, a cylindrically shaped actuating nut engaging said screw, a lifting member horizontally disposed with respect to said column, a tubular sliding member positioned about said column, said lifting member being carried by said sliding member, means for supporting said sliding member about said column, said means including a U-shaped member engaging said nut, and arm members connected to said U-shaped member, said supporting means being movably positioned in said column between said stems and said joined internal flanges and in said slot, said arm members being also connected to said sliding member roller means for guiding said sliding member along said column, said roller means being operatively connected to said sliding member at the inner surface thereof and engaging the inner surfaces of said external flanges, at least one vehicle bearing member removably positioned on said lifting member, whereby a vehicle may be easily raised and lowered and the actuating means for so raising and lowering said vehicle may be protected from dirt and grease and water, and whereby the actuating means will not be subjected to damage when the lifting member contacts a foreign object.

2. The lifting appliance of claim 1 including a semicylindrical member fixedly attached to said laterally positioned supporting member at the groove thereof, whereby said supporting member and said nut may be disengaged when an obstacle prevents the lowering of the lifting member as the nut is lowered, thereby preventing wear and damage to said screw and nut.

3. The lifting appliance of claim 1 including means for rotating said column, said means being operatively con nected to said column, and means for locking said rotating means in a fixed position, said locking means being operatively connected to said rotating means.

4. The lifting appliance of claim 1 including arm members hingedly connected to said lifting member, whereby said arms may be raised when said appliance is not in use, thereby conserving space.

5. The lifting appliance of claim 1 including two bearing members, each member comprising a rolling way of sheet material having a U-shaped cross section, two H-shaped irons spaced one from the other rigidly fastened to said bearing member, said H-shaped irons being connected by means of a flat iron sheet, whereby said bearing member may be positioned on said lifting member.

6. The lifting appliance of claim 1 including a Y- shaped bearing member positioned on said lifting member.

7. A lifting appliance for vehicles and the like comprising a single column having a rear face and a front face, said column consisting of two H-shaped irons, each having upper and lower soles and a stem positioned therebetween, each of said upper and lower soles having inner and outer surfaces, the upper sole and the lower sole of each iron consisting of an external flange and an internal flange, the respective internal flanges of said upper soles being joined and the respective internal flanges of said lower soles being joined, whereby said respective stems and said respective joined internal flanges form a hollow within said column extending the length of said column, said outer surfaces of said joined upper soles and said joined lower soles constituting said rear face and said front face, respectively, said rear face having a vertical slot, an actuating screw suspended in said column between said stems and said joined internal flanges from the upper end of said column, a cylindrically shaped actuating nut engaging said screw, a lifting member horizontally disposed with respect to said column, a tubular sliding member positioned about said column, said lifting member being carried by said sliding member, means for supporting said sliding member about said column, said means including a U-shaped member engaging said nut, and arm members connected to said U-shaped member, said supporting means being movably positioned in said column between said stems and said joined internal flanges and in said slot, said arm members also being connected to said sliding member, roller means for guiding said sliding member along said column, said roller means being operatively connected to said sliding member at the inner surface thereof and engaging the inner surfaces of said external flanges, a safety nut loosely engaged on said screw, said safety nut being positioned below said actuating nut, said safety nut having at least two segments, a frame positioned in a fixed angular position with respect to said column, means for maintaining said frame in said fixed position, said means being engaged in said slot and being operatively connected to said frame, spring means for holding said segments apart from each other and against said frame, said spring means being positioned between said segments, means for causing an automatic jamming of said segments onto said screw upon displacement of said frame downwardly with respect to said segments, said means being operatively connected to said frame and said segments, and at least one vehicle bearing member removably positioned on said lifting member, whereby a vehicle may be easily raised and lowered and the actuating means for so raising and lowering said vehicle may be protected from dirt and grease and water, and whereby actuating means will not be subjected to damage when the lifting member contacts a foreign object.

8. The lifting appliance of claim 7 including at least two bearing surfaces on said frame for receiving said actuating nut, whereby, when there is a break-off of said actuating nut, the load carried by said actuating nut will be received by said frame on said bearing surfaces.

9. in a lifting appliance for vehicles and the like comprising a single hollow column, said single column com prising two H-shaped irons, each of said two H-shaped irons comprising two sole members, each sole member including an internal flange and an external flange, the internal flanges of the sole members of one H-shaped iron facing and joined to the internal flanges of the sole members of the other H-shaped iron, said sole members having outer surfaces, said outer surfaces constituting the faces of said column, a driving screw suspended from the upper end of said column within said column and a driving nut engaged on said screw, a slide member, a lifting member, said nut carrying said slide member, one of said column faces having a vertical slot, said slide member being tubular in shape and positioned about said column, said nut being cylindrically shaped, means for supporting said slide member, said means including a tJ-shaped member engaging said nut, and arm members connected to said U-shaped member, said arm members being rigidly connected to said slide member, said arm members being positioned through said vertical slot, roller members operatively connected to said slide member, said roller members being movably positioned on the inner faces of said external flanges of said H-shaped irons, said lifting member being rigidly connected to said slide member and being carried by said slide member, and at least one vehicle bearing member removably positioned on said lifting member, whereby said U- shaped member and said nut may be disengaged when an obstacle prevents the lowering of the lifting member as the nut is lowered, thereby preventing wear and damage to said driving screw and nut.

10. The lifting appliance of claim 9 including means for rotating said column, said means being operatively connected to said column, and means for locking said rotating means in a fixed position, said locking means being operatively connected to said rotating means.

the lifting appliance of claim 9 including arm members hingedly connected to said lifting member, whereby said arms may be raised when said appliance is not in use, thereby conserving space.

12. The lifting appliance of claim 9 including two bearing members, each member comprising a rolling way of sheet material having a U-shaped cross section, two double-H shaped irons spaced one from the other rigidly fastened to said bearing member, said double-H shaped irons being connected by means of a flat iron sheet, whereby said bearing member may be positioned on said lifting member.

13. The lifting appliance of claim 9 including a Y- shaped bearing member positioned on said lifting member.

14. in a lifting appliance for vehicles and the like comprising a single hollow column, said single column comprising two H-shaped irons, each of said two H- shaped irons comprising two sole members, each sole member including an internal flange and an external flange, the internal flanges of the sole members of one H-shaped iron facing and joined to the internal flanges of the sole members of the other H-shaped iron, said sole members having outer surfaces, said outer surfaces constituting the faces of said column, a driving screw suspended from the upper end of said column within said column and a driving nut engaged on said screw, a slide member, a lifting member, said nut carrying said slide member, one of said column faces having a vertical slot, said slide member being tubular in shape and positioned about said column, said nut being cylindrically shaped, means for supporting said slide member, said means including a U-shaped member engaging said nut, and. arm members connected to said U-shaped member, arm members being rigidly connected to said slide member, said arm members being positioned through said vertical slot, roller members operatively connected to said slide member, said roller members being movably positioned on the inner faces of said external flanges of said H-shaped irons, said lifting member being rigidly r if connected to said slide member and being carried by said slide member, a safety nut loosely engaged on said driving screw, said safety nut being positioned below said driving 'nut, said safety nut having at least two segments, a frame positioned in a fixed angular position with respect to said column, means for maintaining said frame in a fixed position, said means being engaged in said slot and being operatively connected to said frame, spring means for holding said segments apart from each other and against said frame, said spring means being positioned between said segments, means for causing an automatic jamming of said segments onto said screw upon displacement of said frame downwardly with respect to said segments, said means being operatively connected to said frame and said segments, and at least one vehicle bearing member removably positioned on said lifting member.

15. The lifting appliance of claim 14 including at least two bearing surfaces on said frame for receiving said driving nut, whereby, when there is a break-off of said driving nut, the load carried by said driving nut will be received by said frame on said bearing surfaces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,002,289 Love Sept. 5, 1911 1,432,299 Pleines Oct. 17, 1922 1,539,34 r Adam May 26, 1925 1,986,620 Borden et a1. Jan. 1, 1935 2,114,156 Towson Apr. 12, 1938 2,545,417 Ulinski Mar. 13, 1951 2,640,562 Villars June 2, 1953 2,655,223 Villars Oct. 13, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 499,000 Great Britain Jan. 17, 1939 OTHER REFERENCES Mechanix-lllustrated, pg. 89, October 1952. 

